Lance Bass Hires Himself a Shirtless Bodyguard

Just what every high-profile celebrity gay needs. Actually, he's coming out of the Equinox at South Beach, so it's most likely a trainer or workout companion. But it's much more amusing to believe that Bass is surrounded by a shirtless security detail ready to beat down anti-gay thugs at all times. More at Just Jared.

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Lance Bass is Fired Up

Lance Bass demonstrates what 29 candles looks like at a birthday celebration over the weekend in Miami. (via marc malkin)

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Jim Carrey and Rodrigo Santoro Play Gay in I Love You Phillip Morris

Last week I reported that Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, and Rodrigo Santoro had been spotted doing some "research" at Edison Farrow's popular gay Martini Tuesdays at Halo Lounge in Miami Beach.

Here's your first look at Carrey and Santoro flaunting their Versace in the film I Love You Phillip Morris, which just began shooting in Miami.

In the film, an adaptation of the Steve McVicker novel I Love You Philip Morris, Jim Carrey plays Steven Russell, a married father/conman who finds himself in the Texas prison system where he falls in love with his cellmate Phillip Morris. The romance prompted four escape attempts and a lifetime jail sentence for Russell. McGregor plays Morris, and I don't have the details on Santoro's role.

Those Versace fashions really up the cheese factor. Let's hope they don't Chuck & Larry it.

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News: Richard Zednik, Obama Security, Taylor Kitsch, Hepatitis A

Jason Rae, the nation's youngest superdelegate who also happens to be gay and was heavily wooed by the Clinton camp, has decided to endorse Obama. Rae: "The Democratic Party is fortunate to have two very talented individuals running for President this election. It is a difficult choice for anyone, but in the end, the choice for me has become clear. I am proudly supporting Senator Barack Obama."

Madonna, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, Eric Dane and others in Hepatitis A scare at trendy New York hotspot Socialista — told to get vaccinated immediately.

Friday Night Lights Taylor Kitsch the latest stud to join X-Men Origins : Wolverine starring Hugh Jackman.

Project Runway stars reunite, dish the dirt before season finale.

State College, Pennsylvania Mayor Bill Welch to preside at same-sex commitment ceremony of six gay and lesbian couples: "'All of them have been together for several years and are actively committed to their partners,' said [Tom] Koerber, co-director of the university Coalition of LGBTA Graduate Students. The coalition has scheduled the ceremony to coincide with the start of Pride Week, an annual week when gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students — along with straight allies — drum up pride in their community."

Bollywood actor Siddharth speaks out on playing gay roles: "I think we are a homophobic country and I believe the media’s insensitive sensationalisation of the issue is largely responsible for this. As an actor I play roles based on reality. Sexual orientation is a natural and personal choice. I see no reason for it to affect my decision to accept a project. I have close friends who are gay, and they are as intelligent and caring as, if not more than, my heterosexual friends. I think it’s time we started respecting them and giving them their much-deserved freedom to just be themselves."

Officers surprised by order to stop security screening in Dallas more than an hour before Obama took the stage: "The order to put down the metal detectors and stop checking purses and laptop bags came as a surprise to several Dallas police officers who said they believed it was a lapse in security. Dallas Deputy Police Chief T.W. Lawrence, head of the Police Department's homeland security and special operations divisions, said the order -- apparently made by the U.S. Secret Service -- was meant to speed up the long lines outside and fill the arena's vacant seats before Obama came on. 'Sure,' said Lawrence, when asked if he was concerned by the great number of people who had gotten into the building without being checked. But, he added, the turnout of more than 17,000 people seemed to be a 'friendly crowd.'"

Hockey player Richard Zednik, whose carotid artery as you may remember was ripped open by a skate blade, speaks to the media: "When I saw the blood, I knew I had to get up. I got to the trainers and said it's up to them now."

Dolce & Gabbana's new collection trashed by buyers: "If I was on a blind-date and a girl answered the door dressed like that, I'd say I was gay and looking for my boyfriend's apartment."

Miami Beach prepares for annual Winter Party: ''When the Task Force took over Winter Party, one of the missions was to make sure it was not just a [men's] circuit party but a series of events to reach out to . . . the entire spectrum of the community. Transgender people, LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] families and youth. We don't have a pride celebration in Miami. This is about the closest thing we have to it.''

29-year-old who stabbed gay man to death in public toilet in Britain appears in court: "Mr Akers, a retired accountant from Wallington, was found stabbed in public toilets in Walton Lane, just off Walton Bridge about 3pm on Tuesday. He died later in hospital. Mr Akers, from Wallington, had a male partner who he had been living with for 22 years. A postmortem examination held at the Royal Surrey County Hospital revealed the cause of death as a single stab wound to the back ."

27-year-old in Brazil ordered to pay fine of $8,500 for using 'fag' slur and throwing beer can at gay man: "It is the first time this fine is put into practice by the State since the creation of law nº 10.948 back in 2001."

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Gerard Butler and Jason Statham Form Muscle Storm in Miami

Gerard Butler and Jason Statham rang in 2008 at the Cuervo Platino Party at The Florida Room at the Delano Hotel in Miami Beach on New Year's Day. All that and a shot of tequila? Now that's a great way to start the year.

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Gerard Butler to Jeffrey Dean Morgan: P.S. - I Love Your Ass [tr]
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Jason Statham Back in The Bank Job [tr]

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Jamie Foxx Drinks Pink in Miami

Going commando, Foxx appears ready for some sex and the city.
(Wire Image via TMZ)

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Behind the Scenes of Spencer Tunick's Miami Beach Photo Shoot

Photographer Spencer Tunick (above) produced one of his mass nude photo installations on Monday at the Sagamore Hotel in Miami Beach.

More than 500 people showed up to take part in the shoot, which consisted of several set-ups including 140 men nude in the pool on green rafts, 140 women in the pool on pink rafts, and 400 standing around the pool bar and on the balconies of the hotel, shaking bottles of Champagne and shooting foam into the air.

Tunick called the Miami project "a cross between an installation by Nancy Rubins and Robert Smithson, with the quirky quality of a Diane Arbus piece."

One notable participant was blogger and former Real World housemate Dan Renzi, who wrote about the experience on his blog.

Said Renzi: "They promised us we'd come in, work out the shot, get naked really quick, and then za za zoom we'd be done. Promise! Cut to us, today: standing around naked, waiting to re-set the shot. Standing around naked, waiting for a cloud to pass. Standing around naked, because it was just so much easier than constantly pulling our clothes off and then finding them in the pile and putting them back on again. Naked naked naked. Although I couldn't work my way into a shoot until about half-way through the day; people are insane with devotion to Spencer Tunick, following him around the country like he's the Grateful Dead, and they are ruthless when it comes time to line up for shoots. He uses only part of the crowd for each shoot, the first 150/200/whatever people in line are the ones in the shot. So although you're supposed to take turns, of course people are selfish and pushy and go repeatedly. Fortunately when I did finally make it in, it was pretty good: we were lined up on the rooftop deck, shoulder-to-shoulder, standing on chairs to lift us up above the guard railing. And up there, we were perfectly in line with the Delano/National/Shore Club hotels, so anyone in their rooms had a clear view to watch. Which, of course, they were, people were virtually picknicking on their terraces and staring. But any nervousness about being naked in public was totally negated by the terror of standing several storeys in the air, teetering on wobbly chairs, inches away from a guard rail that subsequently came up only to our knees."

Renzi says he did the shoot because he thought it would be an interesting thing to do, although he says that for some it was somewhat dangerous: "a woman below us passed out after standing with her knees locked for too long."

Renzi was captured briefly on CNN. He notes: "You may notice my hair is all over the place; I didn't wear any product, I felt it went against the entire concept of the nakedness. Although I did wear deoderant. There's no need to be rude."

Click here for another (NSFW) shot of Renzi (in the square), via ohnotheydidnt (hey, is that Ann Coulter or Anne Heche right behind Dan?).

The photos are scheduled to be displayed at the upcoming Art Basel fair in Miami Beach. It's nice to get the naked truth about these shoots. Nice work, Dan.

I Have Been Naked All Day [how was your day, dan?]
Hundreds bare all for art in Miami Beach [miami herald]

More Spencer Tunick...
Glacial Bodies: Spencer Tunick's Latest Freeze Frame [tr]
18,000 Bare All for Spencer Tunick in Mexico City [tr]
World AIDS Day Premiere: Positively Naked [tr]
Tunick Watch: Naked on the Coast of Spain [tr]
Spencer Tunick Celebrates Skin in Caracas [tr]
A River of Flesh [tr]

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News: Kylie Minogue, Sydney, Spencer Tunick, Nikolai Alexeyev

In the first nationwide law of its kind in Latin America, Colombia grants health benefits to same-sex couples.

Jury in Princess Diana inquest gets an uncanny look at her final moments, as they too are chased by the paparazzi in Paris: "The coach carrying the Diana inquest jury has reportedly crashed as it traced the Princess's last movements around Paris. In an eerie parallel with the catastrophic accident which killed the Princess, the bus driver was apparently trying to out-manoeuvre paparazzi outside the Ritz. The jury, coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker, and teams of lawyers made British legal history by making a site inspection of the places where the Princess and her lover Dodi Fayed spent their final hours. But within minutes of starting the tour in the Place Vendome, close to the Ritz hotel, their bus knocked a police outrider from his motorcycle. Then seconds later the bus collided with an 18-inch metal bollard."

Britney Spears and sister attacked at sushi restaurant: "Nobody wants you in this neighborhood Britney! MOVE! You are making this neighborhood very unsafe!"

Bush White House has tried to "silence" MSNBC's Chris Matthews, host claims: "They will not silence me!...They’ve finally been caught in their criminality."

Russian gay activist Nikolai Alexeyev gets "solidarity reception" in the Windy City.

Kylie channels Patrick Nagel for new album cover...

Former OUT magazine editor Brendan Lemon and his friend Jerry Wade have started an entertainment-oriented blog called Lemonwade. Lemon has the scoop on Jake Gyllenhaal's rumored trip to the Broadway stage in Farragut North: "Lemonwade has learned that [Mike] Nichols will not be directing the play. For now, the production — with Gyllenhaal or anyone else — is on hold. And with Gyllenhaal’s film schedule filling up (he has just signed on to star in a love-triangle movie called 'Brothers,' with Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman), I don’t see him on Broadway anytime soon."

600 people to pose nude for Spencer Tunick at Sagamore Hotel in Miami Beach: "It's about fantasy and leisure. It's a stereotype, but it's true. You're going to have a good time if you come to Miami Beach. I'm going to have 100 to 200 women in pink rafts. We're going to have people on the balcony posing very much like the Tower of Babel meets Logan's Run. We're going to buy some champagne, 500 bottles, and were going to make a giant explosion for the climax of the installation from the balcony."

Violent anti-gay crimes in Sydney prompt unusual political visit to Oxford Street: "As partygoers looked on, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, Police Minister David Campbell, Labor candidate for Wentworth George Newhouse and local drag queen Maxi Shield wandered the clubs and back alleys of Oxford Street to gauge the impact of homophobic violence."

Gay nightlife "targeted" in Birmingham, England.

B'gosh! Gay and lesbian support group forms in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Movie theater lobby contains hidden erotic message.

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Tenth Anniversary of Gianni Versace Murder Observed in Milan

Donatella Versace appeared pleased following the debut of a two-part ballet entitled Thank you, Gianni, with love, meant to mark the 10th anniversary of fashion designer Gianni Versace's murder, which was yesterday.

The ballet was written by French choreographer and friend of Versace Maurice Bejart, with whom the designer had collaborated during his lifetime.

Versace was slain by obsessed serial killer Andrew Cunanan on the steps of his Ocean Drive, Miami Beach mansion on July 15, 1997 as he arrived home from his morning walk.

The Miami Herald recalls the pandemonium and shock that ensued in the hours and days following:

"Miami Beach Detective Robert Hernandez, a public information officer at the time, was among the first to arrive at Versace's mansion. 'There was a patrol officer already there, but he had no idea who the victim was. When I saw him, I said: 'Do you know who that is? That's Versace! This is going to be big.' I called the lead PIO at the time, Al Boza, and told him: 'Get ready.' Indeed, reporters from newspapers, radio, television and the Internet quickly got wind of a sensational story. Within hours, the news got juicier. Versace's killer had been identified as Cunanan, a spree killer who only weeks before had been listed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List."

Cunanan committed suicide aboard a Miami houseboat eight days later after a massive manhunt uncovered his whereabouts.

Below, Bejart and Versace in May 1997, two months before his death.

A look at Versace's murder 10 years on [miami herald]

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Jesse Metcalfe and Friend Get Their Tans On

Jesse Metcalfe and friend luxuriate in the Miami sun. Perhaps that's Jesse's 'handler'.

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #128

ESCAPED BEAR: One of my favorites from LOGO's "Big Gay Sketch Show".
(source: joe.my.god)

MIAMI: Trailer spot for the 9th Miami Gay & Lesbian Film festival.

VIDEO GAME DOG: Would this breed be called a Wiimeraner?

TRICKS OF THE EYE: Or should we say these guys are just throwing shade?

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here!

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News: Prince Harry, Gay-straight Alliances, Scott Speedman

Brokeback begone: Bill introduced in Wyoming that would invalidate same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Scott Speedman tugs the heartstrings at Sundance.

Politics played a role in the government's response to Hurrricane Katrina, according to former FEMA head Michael Brown: "Political storm clouds gathered again over the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina as former Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Brown said party politics influenced decisions on whether to take federal control of Louisiana and other areas affected by the hurricane. Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said the partisanship Brown described was "disgusting," while a White House spokeswoman said Brown was making "false statements." Brown told a group of graduate students Friday that some in the White House had suggested the federal government should take charge in Louisiana because Blanco was a Democrat, while leaving Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, a Republican, in control in his state." (via crooks & liars)

A great story from the Miami Herald about the importance of gay-straight alliances in high schools: "Just knowing that there are other kids like me, or who care about the same issue that I do, it makes me feel great. Less alone. That life is not hopeless."

Prince Harry angers his training squad by skipping a 100-minute march for a night of partying at the Cuckoo Club.

Tony Blair backs his Communities secretary Ruth Kelly as she attempts to find a loophole in new gay rights laws that would allow Catholic adoption agencies to turn away gay couples: "A spokeswoman for Ms Kelly, who has overall responsibility for equality, said the minister wanted to "protect the pool of prospective parents" and would be trying to find a "pragmatic way forward" this week. The Catholic church has threatened to close its seven adoption agencies rather than comply with laws that forbid them to discriminate against gay couples."

REPORT: FOX has approached the Beckhams to do an Osbornes-style reality show.

Federal judge rules that city of Philadelphia had the right to arrest members of Repent America at that city's PrideFest in 2004 after the group used a bullhorn to spew Biblical verse during stage event. Judge: "There is no constitutional right to drown out the speech of another person."

Vice President Dick Cheney rejected a conciliatory offer to go into talks with Iran in the spring of 2003.

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Domenico Dolce Prefers Delivery

Domenico Dolce, sans design partner Stefano Gabbana, was also recently spotted suntanning on South Beach, and Page Six reports he was busy at the clubs as well:

"Domenico Dolce does not pick up men - he has them selected and brought to him. The venerable designer - one half of the Dolce & Gabbana clothing empire - was at Miami hot spot Snatch the other night with several friends and one special employee whose assignment was 'to get hot guys in the club to go to his table,' giggled our spy. 'Domenico would point at a guy, and his employee would go bring the man over. It was extremely effective.'"

Well, at least he's not busy bashing gay parents.

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Stefano Gabbana: Same-Sex Parents Unfit to Raise Children [tr]
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Benjamin McKenzie on South Beach

The OC's Benjamin McKenzie spent some time frolicking in the waters off South Beach, Miami recently. Now that his show has been cancelled, he may have plenty more time for that.

(source, source)

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News: Polar Bears, Tony Blair, Wal-Mart, Hot Brazilians

Tony Blair on celebrity Bee Gee holiday in Miami. Tory Shadow Transport Secretary: "The trouble is that the Prime Minister does not appear to understand the damage his antics do to the reputation of politics in general, and that does no favours for any of us."

Bald Eagle spotted carrying fish in New York City.

United States to spend a year considering whether to place the polar bear on endangered species list as it suffers from loss of Arctic ice due to global warming: "Still, it will take at least another year of official study before the White House makes any decision on the polar bear, so Bush's admission is a small one indeed. But with even the Republican base shifting gears on global warming -- it's no accident that the White House announcement came the day after more than 85 Christian evangelical leaders signed a statement urging the federal government to issue mandatory limits on greenhouse-gas emissions -- even this obstinate administration may be getting the message that its inaction is unpopular and unsustainable."

The sexiest Brazilian of 2006 is...

And meet the celebrity criminals of 2006.

Operation Save America protests in front of Bentonville, Arkansas Wal-Mart, attacking store for disobeying "godly principles" of founder Sam Walton by "promoting homosexual sodomy and the killing of [God's] children." Wal-Mart responds: "Everyone has their own opinions and our focus is on serving our customers. Just as importantly, respect for the individual is one of the core values that has made us into the company we are today. We take pride in the fact that we treat every customer, every supplier and every member of our individual communities fairly and equally."

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Nicky Hilton Beefs Up her New Hotel

This is probably the only time you'll see me linking to a Nicky Hilton photoshoot, but she's working it (warning NSFW) for her new Nicky O South Beach hotel, as are the members of her male harem.

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